Push-button or key actuated switch, particularly for controlling tool machines



June 29, 1965 w. K. J. HOLZER 3,192,327

' PUSH-BUTTON 0R KEY ACTUATED SWITCH, PARTICULARLY FOR CONTROLLING TOOLMACHINES Fild Feb. 5, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 g I INVENTVOR1 i" Mum? m1HOLZER Attorneys June29, '1965 w K. J. HOLZER 3,192,327

PUSH-BUTTON 0R IIEY ACTUATED SWITCH, PARTICULARLY FOR CONTROLLING TOOLMACHINES Filed Feb. 5, I962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fi 512. b g

. 42 L M l'I/I/I/I/III/ T Fig.14.

I |NVENTOR= warm A. a? HOLZER' Atto rneys United States Patent 3,192,327PUSH-BUTTON OR KEY ACTUATED SWITCH, PARTICULARLY FOR CONTROLLING TOOLMACHINES Walter Karl Josef Holzer, 19 Drosteweg,

Meersburg-on-the-Bodensee, Germany Filed Feb. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 171,055Claims priority, application Germany, Feb. 14, 1961,

H 41,728; Dec. 27, 1961, H 44,4d3

9 Claims. (Cl. 200-4) The invention relates to a push-button switchparticularly suitable for controlling tool machines.

The invention aims to provide a push-button switch having at least twobuttons or keys so that, when one button is pressed, a programmesequence is carried out where, for example in the case of an automaticturret machine, the work is clamped, the turning tool is brought intoposition and the work is turned to a given length and severed. When afurther button is pressed another programme sequence takes place, forexample at another part of the machine.

The invention also aims to construct the push-buttons and/or controls sothat contact-making is effected in a small space, with low productioncosts and a shockproof construction and very safe operation, and also sothat the push-buttons can easily be replaced using key-like tools andcan be mounted so that the fastening positions are not visible.

Push-button switches are known comprising a plurality of juxtaposedswitch keys, each of which moves a slide in the direction of actuation,which in turn operates a cross-slide transversely to the direction ofactuation until the contacts mounted on the cross-slide make contact.

Such push-buttons are used, for example, in radio sets where, forexample by pressing the ultra-short wave key, contacts are closed whichswitch over the aerial accordingly and effect the subsequent switchingprocesses.

The disadvantage of such constructions is that either the push-button,by displacing a slide in a parallel direction, actuates many contactsmounted on the slide, or else a cross-slide is provided to actuate onecontact. To obtain a programme, many push-buttons have to be pressed sothat the appropriate programme takes place. Such constructions arebulky. Inparticular, it is also impossible to change a programme, forexample by exchanging the push-buttons, since it is constructionallydiflicult to remove and/ or replace the many contacts which aregenerally firmly anchored and embedded in plastics material.

The invention aims to avoid these disadvantages and to permit manycontacts to be actuated by one push-button or key but also to facilitateactuation of individual contacts in order to alter the programme.

According to the invention, a plurality of cams corresponding to aswitching programme is mounted on the spring-loaded slide of thepush-buttons or keys and engage contact slides carrying the programmecontacts.

In this construction, the slide, which is integral with the push-button,no longer has many contacts mounted on it but serrations, cam profilesor the like are provided which, in turn, actuate many cross-slides inthe form of contact slides. These contact slides generally operate onlyone contact so that, by judicious spacing and construction of theserrations on the slide, only one contact slide can be actuated tooperate the appropriate contacts.

One possibility is for the contact slides to be springloaded againsttheir direction of movement and to possess recesses in accordance withthe spacing of the push-buttons with projections bearing on the cams ofthe pushbutton slides.

The cam profiles or serrations of the slides are now scanned from theoutside by projections mounted in the contact slides. It is now possibleto arrange the contact 3,192,327 Patented June 29, 1965 slides onebehind the other and one over the other, since they always need to haveonly a small width. The cam fixed to the slides is needed only to moveone contact slide, whilst the cam adjacent or behind itmoves a differentcontact slide. If the push-buttons are now changed, differentprojections and recesses in the cam on the slide engage recesses andprojections on the contact slide, so that contact combinations can beactuated at will to switch on a great variety of programmes.

It is desirable for the projections in the contact slide recesses to bearranged adjacently or offset and to match the cams on, or recesses in,the push-button slides.

In order that the buttons or keys can be replaceable, it is desirablefor the slides of the push-buttons to be provided near the push-buttonswith projections which displace the contact slides far enough for thepush-buttons to be removed with the slides.

Thus, in this construction the contact slides lock the push-buttons. Ifcorresponding projections on the pushbuttons and/ or their slides engagerecesses in the contact slides, the latter are displaced so that thepush-buttons can be changed.

When the push-button is depressed, the projections arranged near thepush-buttons permit the uppermost holder, which takes the form of acover strip, to be moved far enough to enable the push-buttons to beexchanged. However, this cover strip may equally well be fixed withscrews to enable the buttons to be exchanged.

Another possible arrangement where the push-buttons can be changedconsists in constructing the cover strip as a lock slide mounted in theswitch casing and behind which the contact slides are located.

In this construction the cover strip is replaced by a speciallyconstructed lock slide which serves to lock the individual push-buttons.It the lock slide is appropriately displaced, for example by means of atool, the push buttons can be changed. Such ease in changing thepush-buttons is important since now dilferent push-buttons withdifferent projections switching on a different programme can be insertedby linear displacement or rotation if the greatest possible variety ofprogramme preselection and sequence is to be made use of.

It is also important for the switch casing accommodating thepush-buttons and slide springs to have tapped holes to receive themounting screws connecting the push-button casing to the switch casing.

In this arrangement there are now two separate constructional partswhich are separately assembled and the relation between which can bealtered by suitably exchanging contaet slides or push-buttons withslides. The contact slides with the lock slide are in the switch casing.This casing is fixed in any place, for example on the ma chine. andassociated slides to actuate the contact slides.

Since the casings are separate, a clear picture is available as to whatprojections, cams, etc., the slides have and what programme is beingoperated. The two casings can be joined by means of the lock slide byfixing the pushbutton casing without any push-buttons and slides on theswitch casing and then inserting a tool to bring the lock slide into aposition where the push-buttons with the slides and slide springs can bereadily inserted. When the tool is removed, the slides lock the switchhousing through the lock slide. Unauthorised persons are thereforeunable to change any parts, and the fastening has a pleasing appearanceon the outside.

Various tools can be used to actuate the lock slide. One possibility isfor a slot aligned with the gap between the push-buttons to be providedin the switch and pushbutton casing for the insertion of a tool whichmoves the lock slide in one direction and the still blocking contactslide in the other direction.

The push-button casing carries the push-buttons A great variety ofconstructions is possible for the slides. They may be rectangular,square or polygonal in section, and a desirable arrangement is for thepush-buttons to operate square slides having carns or recesses on alltheir surfaces, so that the contact slides are displaced when the slidesof the push-buttons and the puslrbuttons themselves are reciprocatedand/ or turned.

Such a push-button switch can be applied to the most varied controls andcan safely be used with widely-spaced contacts to operate the mostvaried programmes. The buttons or keys may have rest or operatingpositions, the rest position being obtained by a turning and/orreciprocating movement.

Examples of the invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdiagrammatic drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates tle arrangement of two pushdreys with three contactslides,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a contact slide as shown in FIG. 1 withoutkeys,

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but with the contact slide arranged fordifferent contact actuation,

FIG. 4 shows groups of contact slides with one key,

FIG. 5 is a possible construction of recesses and projections inside thecontact slide,

FIGS. 6 to 9 are diiferent constructions corresponding to FIG. 5,

FIG. 10 illustrates the arrangement of a cover strip to enable keys tobe exchanged,

FIG. 11 illustrates the key and switch casing with one lock slide andcontact slide,

FIG. 12 shows a construction of the lock and contact slide,

FIG. 13 shows a diiierent construction, and

FIG. 14 shows the construction of a slide for an operating position.

In FIG. 1, contact slides 2, 3, 4 are mounted on a base 1 and are urgedby springs in the direction of the arrow 5. The contact slides haveapertures or recesses 6 in which the slides 7, 8 are reciprocated. Theslides 7, 8 are provided with push-buttons or keys 9, 10. If one or bothof the push-buttons 9, 10 are pressed in the direction of the arrow 11,then the cams 12 mounted on the slides cause the contact slides to movein the direction of the arrow 13. However, only the contact slide 2, 3,4 of which the recess 6 is touched by the cams 12 is moved. The buttons9, 10 are, of course, mounted in bearings 14.

In FIG. 2, a contact slide 2 is shown in plan, also mounted in bearings14. The recesses 6 are of rectangular section and, depending on which ofthe cams 12 of the slides 7, 8 touches a recess 6, the appropriatecontact slide 2, 3, 4 is pushed in the direction of the arrow 13 againstthe action of the spring 15. Contacts 16, mounted perpendicular to thedirection of the arrow 13, are then operated by these contact slides andswitch on any part of the machine (not shown).

FIG. 3 shows that projections 17 can be arranged on the contact slide 3to move the contacts 16 parallel to the direction of the arrow 13.

In FIG. 4 like references denote like parts. In this construction groups18, 19, 20 of contact slides are formed. These groups have recesses 6with different projections.

FIG. 5 shows the relative arrangement of four such contact slidesforming a group. One has a projection 21, the next the projection 22,the third the projection 23 and the last the projection 24. If the slide'7 is moved by the button 9 in the direction of the arrow 11 in FIG. 4,then that contact slide of the group 18 whose appropriate projection 21to 24 bears on the corresponding projection of the slide 7 will bemoved.

This enables contacts to be safely operated in a very small space. Agreat length of travel is available, and contact slides can easily bechanged so as to actuate other contacts. The contact slides forming thegroup 18 are constructed as those in FIGS. 2 and 3 as regards springingand contact arrangement.

amass? H6. 10 illustrates the possibility of exchanging buttons. Alaterally displaceable cover strip 25 with a recess 26 takes the form ofa contact slide. On further depression of the key and retaining it inthis position, an enlarged projection 29, arranged below'the push-buttonin this example, advances the cover strip a further distance 30 in thedirection of the arrow 2%.

This makes it possible for all the other push-buttons to be withdrawn inthe direction of the arrow 31 and exchanged for push-buttons withdiiierently-arranged projections, i.e. with different operatingpossibilities. Conversely, it is also possible to change the push-button9 shown in the example, by similarly depressing another push-button. Thebutton 9 may also have depressed positions. The spring 32, which actsagainst the direction of the arrow 11, ensures that the slides 2 to 4always hear on the recess 33 and thereby prevent the button from return-The push-button switch arrangements shown in FIGS. 11 to 14 areconstructed differently and different references are therefore used forthe push-buttons.

FIG. 11 shows the push-button casing I54. This may be in the form of acover, or it may be a strip connected to the switch casing 36 byfastening screws through the threaded holes 37 in the switch casing. Thepush-button casing accommodates the push-buttons 38 and slide springs39. One of the push-buttons is shown in section, and the slide spring 39is illustrated diagrammatically. The slide is releasably or unreleasablyconnected to the push-button 33 and provided with projections 4-1 orcams for displacing the contact slide 42 which takes the form of across-slide. Contact slides 42 are provided in accordance with thenumber of projections 41 and in turn actuate programme contacts (notshown). The lock slide 43 is arranged above the contact slides 42. Thetwo slides 42 and 43 are supported by springs 44 which cause the contactor lock slides to be returned to their starting position when they havebeen moved. It will be seen from the example that the lock slide 43 hasa bent-out lug 45 and the contact slide 42 a lug 46 bent in the oppositedirection. The gap 47 between the buttons and a slot 48 aligned withthis gap, together with the switch and pushbutton casings are used forinserting a knife-shaped instrument 49. If this is inserted in thedirection of the arrow 51) the legs 45, 46 are applied to the instrument49. The lock slide 43 is thereby moved in the direction of the arrow 51and the contact slide 42 in the direction of the arrow 52. The openingformed by the recesses 53 in the lock slide and 54 in the contact slidenow permit the projection 41 to be released and the slide 40 is removedin the direction of the arrow 55.

It is of course also possible, forexample, for the lock slide 43 to bestationary and only the contact slide 42 to be moved. In the same wayslots 48 may be arranged adjacent each push-button so that eachpush-button can be changed separately. instead of the bent lugs 45, 46,the lock and contact slides can have recesses 56, 57 with tapered sides53, 59 (FIG. 13) which also cause a displace ment in opposite directionswhen a suitable instrument is inserted, thereby aligning the recesseswhich engage under the projections 41, and thus enabling the slide 40with the push-buttons 38 to be changed.

The slides 40 may also have conical projections 60 (FIG. 14), thesebeing dimensioned so that they cannot pass through the recess 54. Whenthe slide is moved in the direction of the arrow 61 the contact slide 42of FIG. 14 is moved in the direction of the arrow 62- while the spring44 is stretchedonly so long as the pressure on the slide 40 in thedirection of the arrow 61 is maintained. Scanning contacts 63, which mayfor example be used as starting contacts in a programme controlsequence, are thereby closed.

The invention can be used in all cases where a great variety of controlsare required to be effected using a push-button or key unit.

I claim:

1. Push button switching arrangement comprising: a plurality of flat andelongated contact slides arranged so that their respective flatextensions are disposed in spaced parallel planes, there being aplurality of recesses in each contact slide, with each recess in eachcontact slide being aligned with one recess in each of all other contactslides; contact means actuated by each of said slides upon shiftingthereof in the direction of elongated extension of said latter slide; aplurality of key slides respectively traversing said aligned recesses,one recess of each contact slide, and in a direction transversely toSaid fiat extension; springs for biasing said key slides; and a uniqueand distinguishing combination of cams arranged longitudinally alongeach key slide, each cam having an actuating surface for engaging atleast one of said contact slides at the recess thereof as traversed bythe key slide to which said latter cam pertains, whereby upon actuationof said latter key slide at least one contact slide is shifted in saiddirection of elongated extension for selectively actuating said contactmeans.

2. A switch according to claim 1, said key slides each having twoopposed cams for cooperation with one contact slide and shifting sameselectively into one of two operating positions.

3. Push button switching arrangement comprising: a plurality of flat andelongated contact slides arranged so that their respective flatextensions are disposed in spaced parallel planes, there being aplurality of recesses in each contact slide, with each recess in eachcontact slide being aligned with one recess in each of all other contactslides; contact means actuated by each of said slides upon shiftingthereof in the direction of elongated extension of said latter slide; aplurality of key slides respectively traversing said aligned recesses,one recess of each contact slide, and in a direction transversely tosaid flat extension; springs for biasing said key slides; a unique anddistinguishing combination of cams arranged longitudinally along eachkey slide; each cam having an actuating surface for engaging at leastone of said contact slides at the recess thereof as traversed by the keyslide to which said latter cam pertains, whereby upon actuation of saidlatter key slide at least one contact slide is shifted in said directionof elongated extension for selectively actuating said contact means; aprojection on each key slide, and a cover strip having recessestraversed by said key slides and cooperating with said projection forselectively removing each of said key slides from all the recesses ittraverses.

4. Push button switching arrangement comprising: a plurality of flat andelongated contact slides arranged so that their respective flatextensions are disposed in spaced parallel planes, there being at leastone recess in each contact slide having a unique configuration; eachrecess in each contact slide being aligned with one recess in each ofall other contact slides; contact means actuated by each of said slidesupon shifting thereof in the direction of elongated extension of saidlatter slide; a key slide traversing all said recesses; and a unique anddistinguishing combination of cams arranged longitudinally along eachkey slide, each cam having an actuating surface for engaging one of saidcontact slides at its unique recess, whereby upon actuation of saidlatter key slide at least one contact slide is shifted in said directionof elongated extension for selectively actuating said contact means.

5. Push button switching arrangement comprising: a plurality of flat andelongated contact slides arranged so that their respective flatextensions are disposed in parallel planes, there being a plurality ofrecessses in each contact slide, with each recess in each contact slidebeing aligned with one recess in each of all other contact slides;contact means actuated by each of said slides upon shifting thereof inthe direction of elongated extension of said latter slide; a pluralityof key slides respectively traversing said aligned recesses, one recessof each contact slide, and in a direction transversely to said flatextension; springs for biasing said key slides; means including a lockslide for locking said key slides; and a unique and distinguishingcombination of cams on each key slide, each cam thereof having anactuating surface for engaging at least one of said contact slides atthe recess thereof as traversed by the key slide to which said lattercam pertains, whereby upon actuation of said latter key slide at leastone contact slide is shifted in said direction of elongated extensionfor selectively actuating said contact means.

6. A switch according to claim 5, wherein said lock slide and onecontact slide has bent-out lugs capable of bearing on a knife-shapedinstrument so as to cause the lock and contact slides to move.

'7. A switch according to claim 5, wherein said lock slide and saidcontact slides have openings with tapered sides capable of bearing onthe edges of a correspondingly shaped instrument. I

8. Push button switching arrangement comprising: a plurality of flat andelongated contact slides arranged so that their respective fiatextensions are disposed in spaced parallel planes, there being aplurality of recesses in each contact slide, with each recess in eachcontact slide having a projection and being aligned with one recess ineach of all other contact slides; springs for biasing said contactslides; contact means actuated by each of said slides upon shiftingthereof in the direction of its elongated extension; a plurality of keyslides respectively traversing said aligned recesses, one recess of eachcontact slide, and in a direction transversely to said fiat extension;springs for biasing said key slides; and a unique and distinguishingcombination of cams arranged longitudinally along each key slide, eachcam having an activating surface for engaging the projection in therecess of at least one contact slide, whereby upon actuation of saidlatter key slide at least one contact slide is shifted in said directionof elongated extension for selectively actuating said contact means.

9. A switch according to claim 8, wherein the projections in the contactslide recesses are juxtaposed and olfset and correspond to the cams onthe key slides.

References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,234,405 3/41Hall et al. 2005 2,672,060 3/54 Den Hertog et al. 74-483 2,819,356 1/58Hutt 200-5 2,968,704 1/61 Woodward et al 2005 2,973,664 3/61 Williams74483 3,022,409 2/62 Williams et al. 2005 3,127,482 3/64 I-Iutt 200-5BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

1. PUSH BUTTON SWITCHING ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF FLAT ANDELONGATED CONTACT SLIDES ARRANGED SO THAT THEIR RESPECTIVE FLATEXTENSIONS ARE DISPOSED IN SPACED PARALLEL PLANES, THERE BEING APLURALITY OF RECESSES IN EACH CONTACT SLIDE, WITH EACH RECESS IN EACHCONTACT SLIDE BEING ALIGNED WITH ONE RECESS IN EACH OF ALL OTHER CONTACTSLIDES; CONTACT MEANS ACTUATED BY EACH OF SAID SLIDES UPON SHIFTINGTHEREOF IN THE DIRECTION OF ELONGATED EXTENSION OF SAID LATTER SLIDE; APLURALITY OF KEY SLIDES RESPECTIVELY TRAVERSING SAID ALIGNED RECESSES,ONE RECESS OF EACH CONTACT SLIDE, AND IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSELY TOSAID FLAT EXTENSION; SPRINGS FOR BIASING SAID KEY SLIDES; AND A UNIQUEAND DISTINGUISHING COMBINATION OF CAMS ARRANGED LONGITUDINALLY ALONGEACH KEY SLIDE, EACH CAM HAVING AN ACTUATING SURFACE FOR ENGAGING ATLEAST ONE OF SAID CONTACT SLIDES AT THE RECESS THEREOF AS TRAVERSED BYTHE KEY SLIDE TO WHICH SAID LATTER CAM PERTAINS, WHEREBY UPON ACTUATIONOF SAID LATTER KEY SLIDE AT LEAST ONE CONTACT SLIDE IS SHIFTED IN SAIDDIRECTION OF ELONGATED EXTENSION FOR SELECTIVELY ACTUATING SAID CONTACTMEANS.